Level indicator for mineral-oil stills



A ril 8, 1930. w,' 1,753,803

I LEVEL INDICATOR FOR MINERAL oIL STILLS Filed'Feb. 27, 1926 wrap r01? IVE/ 155s. r//44zr 5 Few,

Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR E. PEW, J'R., OF BRYN MAWR, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SUN OIL COM- PANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA LEVEL INDICATOR FOR MINERAL-OIL STILLS Original application filed June 19, 1925, Serial No. 38,184. Divided and this application filed February 27,

' 1926. Serial No. 91,047.

In an application filed by me June 19, 1925, Serial No. 38,184, of which this application is a division, I set forth an apparatus for the continuous distillation of oil under a high vacuum. Included in the apparatus is a series of cylindrical still tanks each of which is provided with an inlet and an outlet. Continuously admitted oil flows onto the upper end of an inclined vaporizing pan that extends within the: still chamber over a body of oil in the chamber. Part of the oil that travels along the pan is vaporized The unvaporized residue is discharged from the lower end of the vaporizing pan into said body of oil.

Continuity of the process involves continuous or intermittent withdrawal of the oil from the body of oil and its continuous feed into the next tank of the series in which, at a higher temperature, other and heavier fractions of the oil are vaporized. It follows, therefore, that the body of oil in each of the stills shall be maintained at or close to a predetermined level, and it is important that the operator should be able, at any time, by casual inspection, to ascertain that level.

The present invention comprises means that accomplish this result without danger ofair leakage. They comprise a device within the tank whose position chan es with the oil level, connections from sai device extendin through the tank wall and o erable by sai device, an indicator operable y said connections, and means whereby leakage of air into the tank through or around said connections is rendered impossible.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is across-section through a tank still near one end. v

Fi 2 is a side view, partly'in section, of the 011 levelindicator and air seal.

' f Fig. 3 is an end view of that part oithe oil d which extend longitudinally, with a downward inclination, toward the other end of the tank. Lighter fractions of the oil are vaporized in the course of their flow along these pans. The unvaporized residue discharges into a body of oil in the tank, from which the oil is withdrawn by means of an outlet pipe 6.

Extending through one of the end heads of the still is .a bearingsleeve f in which turns a shaft 9 carrying an arm it having a forked end on which is pivotally mounted a float i. Shaft 9 extends beyond the bearing sleeve into box In having an opening 1', in its top, to the atmosphere. Between the shaft 9 and the outer end of the bearing sleeve f is packing m held in place by a gland n.

becured to the bottom of'the box is and projecting through the opening j in its top is a dial 0. Secured to the extreme end of the shaft g and pro'ecting through the opening 7' in the top of t e box is is a pointer p. By means of the pointer p and'dial o the level of oil in the tank is indicated.

The flow of air throu h the shaft bearing is prevented by fillin the oxkwith oil. There is thus interpose an oil seal between the atmosphere and the interior of the tank, rendering leakage of air into the tank impossible.

What I claim is:

1. The combination, with a vacuum still adapted to contain a 001 of oil, of a device within the still movab e by and in accordance with changes in the level of the oil, connecting means from said device extending through the wall of the still and movable with sa d device, a liquid level indicator located outside the still and operable by said connecting means, packing obstructing fluid communication with the interior of. the 'still around said connecting means, a liqjuid seal container and a liquid seal therein locking leakage of air around said connecting means through the packing, said liquid seal being exposed to the atmosphere.

2.'The combination, with a still adapted to contain a pool of oil under high vacuum, of a device within the still movable by and in accordance with changes in level of the oil, a bearing sleeve carried by and extending through the still wall, connecting means from said device extending through the Wall of the still and said bearing sleeve and movable With said device, packing between said bearing sleeve and connecting means and obstructin fluid communication With the interior o? the still between said bearing sleeve and connecting means, a liquid seal container into which said connecting means extends, a liquid seal in said container blocking leakage of air through said container and packing into the interior of the still, and a liquid level in dicator operable by said connecting means and partly contained in, and partly projecting from said container.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 19th day of Februar 1926.

ARTHUR E. PE JR. 

